One of the very few downsides of loving coffee as much as I do is that I tend to have way too many different devices for brewing that perfect cup. From single-serve machines to drip brewers and everything in between, my love of fancy coffee drinks means I’m either constantly moving different brewers in and out of my cupboard or I’m losing all my counter space to multiple appliances.

But just in time for holiday entertaining, De’Longhi has come to my rescue with a brand-new solution that lets me brew all my favourite drinks with one space-saving device! The De’Longhi BCO330T Combination Machine is a combination drip brewer and espresso/cappuccino machine that lets me choose between brewing a pot of coffee, whipping up a restaurant-worthy gourmet beverage or both, any time I like! [Read more…]

Even though I’ve loved a good cup of coffee ever since I was a teenager, it wasn’t until my late twenties that I realized just how much of a difference there could be between a basic store brand and a freshly roasted quality brand of coffee beans. Once I tasted the difference, I soon became a full-on coffee snob. While I do have my favourite blends and brands, I always love discovering new varieties to add to my coffee lineup. So when I had the chance to test out Driven Coffee, I couldn’t wait to see how I liked it.

I chose three different varieties to review: Papua New Guinea, Fair Trade Organic Mexico Sierra Azul and Impact Espresso Blend. I tend to favour dark roasts, but wanted to try a medium blend as well to get a better feel for the company’s variety. The coffee is available either as whole beans or pre-ground and since I believe the best flavour comes from freshly ground coffee, I chose the whole bean coffee to test. I loved learning that it was roasted in small batches just before being shipped out to maximize freshness!

When the coffee arrived, the smell had me drooling before I’d even opened the box. I popped two of the bags in the freezer to ensure the beans stayed fresh and opened the Papua New Guinea coffee for my first taste-test. It had a nice medium strength and body with a very smooth flavour. I liked the way the coffee was distinctive at the first sip, yet didn’t overpower. It was a perfect breakfast blend to kick start my day![Read more…]

It’s no secret how much I love coffee, and up until now I thought I’d tried just about every possible way to brew up the perfect cup. But making a really good espresso is one of those things that I’d just never managed to master. Traditional espresso machines are so hard to operate, and capsule systems generally cost so much both for the machine and the capsules that they’re just not practical for everyday use.

That’s something that the Martello Café was determined to change. The company’s new at-home capsule brewing system features freshly ground Italian roasted coffee carefully sealed into capsules to ensure a fresh and delicious espresso beverage any time of the day. With all the functionality of a more expensive machine at a fraction of the price, it’s a great choice for any coffee lover on your shopping list this Christmas! [Read more…]